Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change? novel Chapter 1288

"What?" Sherilyn was taken aback. She should go see him? "What's wrong with him?"

"You'll see when you get here! Just come and see for yourself!"

"But..." Sherilyn's brow knitted together. "I'm not in..."

"I know you're in Wessex County!" Charles cut her off, guessing what she was about to say. "Mr. Gilbert came to Wessex County too! He's at the same hotel you're staying at!"

What? Sherilyn was stunned. He was in Wessex County on business? Or...

"Mr. Gilbert came here for you!" Charles didn't leave her guessing. "Sherilyn, I'm begging you, please come and see him!"

Sherilyn clutched her phone, shaking her head. "I won't... You know my agreement with him." They had made it clear when they broke up. While they couldn't completely cut ties for the rest of their lives—he was Jenna's father, after all—they would no longer have any close contact. With that, she was about to hang up.

"Mr. Gilbert!" Suddenly, Charles's voice came through the phone in a panicked shout. "Mr. Gilbert, what's wrong?"

Then came a retching sound. Sherilyn froze. It was Gilbert's voice. What was wrong with him? Why was he throwing up?

"Sherilyn!" Charles's voice was urgent again. "Mr. Gilbert is vomiting! Can you please just come over? Try to talk to him? If I could get through to him, I wouldn't be bothering you!" He continued, his voice strained, "He's in a bad way, Sherilyn. He's been drinking a lot!"

Drinking? The hand holding her phone tightened. Was he trying to kill himself?

"Sherilyn!"

Sherilyn stepped into the suite. The main lights were on, but Gilbert was nowhere to be seen in the spacious room. The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Sherilyn frowned. Was he still being sick? Before she could even look toward the bathroom, she instinctively covered her nose. The stench was overwhelming—a thick cloud of alcohol mixed with the acrid smell of burnt nicotine.

How much had he drunk? And he'd been smoking, too? The coffee table and the carpet were littered with empty liquor bottles, and the ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts. He was completely reckless with his health. A surge of anger flared within her. Sherilyn spun around and stormed into the bathroom.

Inside, Gilbert was hunched over the toilet, still retching. "Gilbert!" Sherilyn rushed forward, grabbing the collar of his shirt. "Have you forgotten what the doctor told you? No smoking, no drinking! You're doing everything you're not supposed to do. Are you trying to die?"

She hadn't pulled him that hard, but Gilbert, as limp as a rag doll, lost his balance and fell backward.

"Gilbert!"